SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - McDonald Drive, Haener Drive, and Gitzel Street are in line for asphalt makeovers this summer.

"We try to base (the repaving schedule) on need, and budget will drive which roads get done," said Chris Greencorn, manager of public works and engineering with the City of Yellowknife.

City administration gave a memorandum to city council on Monday recommending that NWT Construction Ltd. get the contract to repave the roads for an estimated $2.4 million.

City councillor David Wind expressed disappointment that there was only one bidder on the Request for Proposals for the paving project.

"We would always like more competition," said Dennis Kefalas, director of Public Works for the city.

Greencorn said he thinks paving work could start as early as May.

The work will start with small miscellaneous patching around town, including the far right lane of Franklin Avenue beside Winks heading downtown.

"All that water coming down that road just gathers and sits there," said Greencorn.

Greencorn said much of the scheduling of which roads will be worked on when this summer is still being decided.

"Wherever water breaks have occurred, or if there's considerable rutting or deformation, we'll try to get the worst ones fixed up," said Greencorn.

Greencorn said getting the three main streets repaved will likely take a few weeks each.

Greencorn said Gitzel Street is getting repaved because much of the street was dug up last summer when water and sewer lines were being replaced. Dakota Court and Albatross Court will be repaved as well. In total, about 800 metres of road will be repaved on Gitzel.

On McDonald there is only about 100 metres of repaving to be done, but Greencorn said it is an important area to fix up, as it's the main road leading to Latham Island.

Greencorn said Haener Drive is being paved in an effort to get the gravel roads in the Niven Lake subdivision covered in asphalt. Around 600 metres of the street is being paved.

"That road's not in bad shape because it's gravel, but the goal is to get those roads asphalted ... in that subdivision," said Greencorn.